How we produce our content (our editorial policy)

We produce independent, expert, up-to-date information to meet the information needs of people affected by cancer. Our information is based on the latest evidence and reviewed every 2-3 years. It is written in Plain English and aims to be accessible to the widest range of people.

We produce information in a variety of formats about cancer types, tests and treatments, and living with and after cancer.

Macmillan Cancer Support believes that good-quality information can help people affected by cancer understand their situation better and make better decisions about their treatment and day-to-day lives. This page represents our editorial policy and the key principles we follow when producing our content.

You can search our extensive information in the box on the top right of this page. Or you can browse the web pages in our cancer information section.

Most of the information on our website is also available in print booklets, leaflets and fact sheets. You can order our print information from our website be.macmillan.org.uk|

We also have a variety of information resources on CD (also available to order from the be.macmillan website|), and some information in other languages|. If you would prefer to have our information in audio, large print or Braille, please contact us and we’ll do our best to meet your request.

Our information is produced by a team of cancer information development nurses and content editors who are very experienced in producing accurate and accessible information.

We rely on a number of sources to gather evidence for our information. All of our information is in line with accepted national or international guidelines where possible. Where no guidelines exist, we rely on systematic reviews, published clinical trials data or a consensus review of experts. We also use medical textbooks, journals and government publications.

We list a sample of the sources used in each of our publications on the relevant website section. If you’d like further information on the sources we use, please feel free to contact us|.

All of our medical information is rigorously reviewed by cancer professionals to ensure that it’s accurate and reflects the best evidence available. It is approved by a Senior Medical Editor and our Chief Medical Editor, Dr Tim Iveson, consultant Medical Oncologist. Our non-medical information is reviewed by relevant professionals who are experts in their fields. Our information is also reviewed by people affected by cancer to ensure it is as relevant and accessible as possible.

We make every effort to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and up to date but it should not be relied upon as a substitute for specialist professional advice tailored to your situation. So far as is permitted by law, Macmillan does not accept liability in relation to the use of any information contained in this publication, or third-party information or websites included or referred to in it.

You can find out more about how we write and review our information about complementary therapies.

We rely on a number of sources to gather evidence for our information. All of our information is in line with accepted national or international guidelines where possible. Where no guidelines exist, we rely on systematic reviews, published clinical trials data or a consensus review of experts. We also use medical textbooks, journals and government publications.

We list a sample of the sources used within each website section. If you’d like further information on the sources we use, please feel free to contact us|.

You'll see a selection of videos across different pages in our cancer information section| of the website. In some of the videos, people affected by cancer share their personal stories. In others, medical professionals explain cancer diagnosis and treatment procedures.

As with all the cancer information resources we produce, our videos are created with input and feedback from our cancer information nurse specialists and people affected by cancer. They’re reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they’re accurate and relevant. All videos reflect the individual experiences of the person featured, and your own experience may be different.

Macmillan Cancer Support is a certified member of the Information Standard|. This is a quality assurance standard that has been established to improve the quality of health and social care information.

The Information Standard ensures that the cancer information we produce is supported by the best evidence available, and is produced according to strict quality-control guidelines. It also ensures that people affected by cancer are at the heart of all the content we produce. This way, people affected by cancer can be sure that the information they are reading is of the highest quality, to help them make informed decisions about their healthcare and treatment.

All Macmillan content that has been produced in accordance with the scheme is marked with the Information Standard logo. Any Macmillan content that is not marked with the logo is not included in the scope of the Standard.

Macmillan Cancer Support is responsible for the accuracy of the information we publish. Neither the Scheme Operator nor the Scheme Owner shall have any responsibility whatsoever for costs, losses or direct or indirect damages or costs arising from inaccuracy of information or omissions in information published on the website on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support.

We want to ensure that people affected by cancer are at the heart of all the information we produce. Everything we write is read and reviewed by people affected by cancer, to ensure that it’s clear, accessible and relevant to people’s experiences.

If you’d like to support us by reading and reviewing our information, please contact us at reviewing@macmillan.org.uk|. You don’t need any special qualifications, just a cancer experience and an interest in good quality cancer information.

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ.